first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/15 18:20I have to clip Peanut's nails because they are getting too long but I am scared to death to do it. I have been looking at her feet and I can't really see the quick. Maybe I need to put on a brighter light but she doesn't like that. Does anyone have any tips?Becky Mother of Peanut the hedgehog
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
aislinsadia
User
Posts: 507
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/15 18:25Try putting her butt in a bath- she will be less likely to ball up on you. After you clean any poo off the nails, you can see where it turns from a very light pink to white/yellow. Cut the nails just above the pink- that's the quick. If you use a small pair of nail clippers, it will feel less awkward.*~*Steph*~* Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs).
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
omelette
User
Posts: 418
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/16 01:37LOL! Omelette is so antsy, that sometimes I'm only able to get two nails clipped. Plus, she enjoys attacking the nail clippers. So to make things easier I let her run around with a TP tube on her head. That way she's distracted. But I've found that clipping nails while bathing definitely makes things easy.Lisa My Heart Belongs to: Teddy, Sugar, Sapphie, Fudge, Archie, Chuckie - The Yorkies Wendy (Siamese Mix), Echo (Tabby) - Cats Omelette - Hedgehog Basil - Guinea Pig
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
LORI611
User
Posts: 240
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/16 14:21I agree that bath time is a great time!!Hazel was SUCH a huge grouch when I got her it was my only option. But, it works great!LORI, SOUTHINGTON, CT Mom of: Chloe(dog), Mr.Toad(frog) and Hazel the hedgie!!
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Aaria
User
Posts: 323
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/16 16:26People on here always say that we shouldn't bathe hedgehogs more than once a month. Is that how often you clip their nails then or do you have to do it more often?Becky Mother of Peanut the hedgehog
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Julie Pierce
User
Posts: 1028
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/16 18:42Every hedgehog is different when it comes to the frequency needed for nail cutting. Some only need it once in a while, some every week. If your baby needs is frequently and having him/her in water helps you dont have to use a lot of water just enough so when the hedgie balls up they get a face full of water to make them unball.Julie Pierce Pierce's Pogs http://www.piercespogs.com
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
aislinsadia
User
Posts: 507
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/17 10:04You don't have to do it during bath time persay, there are a lot of people who give their hogs "foot baths" which basically is just like two inches of water or less for the hog to walk around it to shake off the poop. You don't have to use soap if you want to cut the nails, just a warm water bath will help.*~*Steph*~* Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs).
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Rachmarie
User
Posts: 5
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/17 15:55I too am a new mommy and super nervous about nail clipping. I have been reading all of the posts and understand that it is easier to clip in the bath. My biggest fear is breaking his little leg because Erizo wiggles. Should I really worry about this? What is the best way to hold them if they are in a bath?
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Christina
User
Posts: 14
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/04/29 21:40Need some advice. I have had my hedgehog for about three weeks. I give him a foot bath just about every night. Plus he seems less huffy and friendlier because I think he is grateful for getting out of the bath. I decided to try clipping his nails today. My husband held him and of course he balled up for the first time since we have had him. But luckily his front feet were kind of sticking out of the top and I was able to clip them. And Wasabi did not seem too perturbed by the whole ordeal. It went a lot better than I expected. But the question now is HOW THE HELL DO I DO THE BACK FEET? HELP!
Christina
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
This is a great guide to clipping nails. As for the back feet, generally they're easier to do than the front Just grab and clip. If your hedgehog balls up when you hold a back leg, I recommend clipping in the bath where he won't ball up.Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Thanks for posting that article. Tonight I just let him hang out with us. I shall attempt the hind feet tomorrow.
Christina
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Aaria
User
Posts: 323
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/02 07:45So none of the articles really address how to hold these little squirmies still. I tried a bath. She is scared of the bath and her feet run a mile a minute even if I pick her up. I tried a towel which worked better except she tries to explore it or find the darkest spot and then when she finds a spot she likes she curls up and tucks her feet under her. I finally got the back ones when I gave her a piece of chicken but it was quite a struggle.Becky Mother of Peanut the hedgehog
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Stasi
Admin
Posts: 629
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/02 12:28Generally, for the really wiggly ones, I put them on a flat surface, snag a back leg and hold on. Another option that works well for people is having a second person helping - one of you can hold the hedgehog, the other grabs a foot and clips. Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
saabgirl9000
User
Posts: 605
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/02 12:44Stasi wrote: Generally, for the really wiggly ones, I put them on a flat surface, snag a back leg and hold on. Another option that works well for people is having a second person helping - one of you can hold the hedgehog, the other grabs a foot and clips.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Aaria
User
Posts: 323
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/02 13:03Thanks! I will try these suggestions. At least she doesn't ball and hiss. She is just wiggly so I figure I'm already one step ahead.Becky Mother of Peanut the hedgehog
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Christina
User
Posts: 14
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/02 22:51Okay I clipped Wasabi's back nails tonight. It was not so bad. I grabbed his back leg and just clipped while he wiggled around. But I did not want to push it so I think I got about three nails on each foot. They were the center ones and easier to get to. I assume that hedgehogs have 5 so therefore I neglected to do two on each foot. Next time...
Christina
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Hedgehogmadhatter
User
Posts: 489
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/03 17:42Sounds like everyone here is doing a good job. A few years ago I knew some folks who only let the vet trim their hedgie's nails! I think that's a bit unnecessary.
The funniest thing about nail trimming is when I am down to one last foot, the hedgehog will stand on the other three feet while hiding the fourth under his quills, sounds impossible but I swear they all do it. I trim my mom's bird's nails too and he'll stand on one foot and hide the other but he doesn't have quills... just a sharp beak! LOL. Can't win some days.
~Sara“The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”
Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)
There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Stasi
Admin
Posts: 629
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/04 08:25Christina wrote: Okay I clipped Wasabi's back nails tonight. It was not so bad. I grabbed his back leg and just clipped while he wiggled around. But I did not want to push it so I think I got about three nails on each foot. They were the center ones and easier to get to. I assume that hedgehogs have 5 so therefore I neglected to do two on each foot. Next time...
Christina
Typically four toes on the back feet 5 on the front. So if you got three on each back foot you are over 1/2 way done!Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Aaria
User
Posts: 323
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/04 09:13Do the nails grow at different rates? It seems like there are 2 really long ones on the back feet that grow quickly and the other two are just little and grow slowly. I haven't had to clip the front ones at all yet. I have a rock that I am assuming she walks on so maybe that's why.Becky Mother of Peanut the hedgehog
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
artemisia
User
Posts: 15
Re:first nail clipping boy am I nervous - 2008/05/05 22:26I think Pelly's pretty unique in this, but he lets me clip his nails like one would shoe a horse. I never had luck with flipping him over, but by chance I found that if I picked up one foot at a time while he was standing, he let me do it. Not that he enjoys it mind you, but it works.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Hedgehog Forums 
I will try these suggestions. At least she doesn't ball and hiss. She is just wiggly so I figure I'm already one step ahead.
